Wednesday, July 11, 2007

SUISUN CITY - Jason Garben is Suisun City's new Economic Development Director, Suisun City Hall announced Tuesday, stepping into the job that interim director Al da Silva had held for almost two years.Garben had served as the city's special projects manager for two years. He moved into his new job July 1. Da Silva will continue working with Garben for the next two years, according to Suisun City Manager Suzanne Bragdon.

Bragdon stated that Garben "has the combination of passion and skill we need to deliver a vibrant, sustainable local economy."

"He's been involved in a number of critical and complex development deals on behalf of the city and the agency over the past two years," Bragdon said.

"Dovetail that with his private sector real estate experience, and his is poised well to serve us in this new position."

Garben's work has included the Main Street West project, the proposed hotel next to One Harbor Center, redevelopment of the south waterfront area and plans to develop vacant land at the end of Civic Center Boulevard.

"It is exciting. A lot of projects are happening," Garben said. "It is a great experience, and I am looking forward to it."

Excerpted from Daily Republic (Subscription required)>>Click for full article>>By Ian ThompsonSUISUN CITY - The Suisun-Solano Water Agency voted unanimously Tuesday for a plan that will raise water rates three times during the next two years.The water authority, which comprises the Suisun City Council and the Solano Irrigation District governing board, voted to raise rates 6 percent in September, 5 percent July 1, 2008, and 5 percent July 1, 2009.

Only one person, Jim Wise of Suisun City, attended the meeting to question the increases, pointing out that the authority had approved several raises in the past and asking how funds from the new rates would be used.

"What were these raises in the past paying for?" Wise said.

Authority board members stated the funds will be used to rebuild the reserves to about $1.8 million, which will be used during droughts when revenue drops because residents conserve water rather than use it as much as they normally do.

It will also allow for spending about $800,000 a year to replace and repair older water lines and other infrastructure on a more systematic basis than in the past.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

SUISUN CITY — City Manager Suzanne Bragdon is pleased to announce the appointment of Jason Garben as Suisun City’s new Economic Development Director.

Mr. Garben, who has worked for the Suisun City Redevelopment Agency as Project Manager for more than two years, assumed the Director’s role effective July 1. He succeeds Alvaro DaSilva, who served as Interim Economic Development Director following the departure of former Economic Development Director Randy Starbuck.

“I am very excited and honored to promote Jason into this vital role for Suisun City,” Ms. Bragdon said. “He’s been involved in a number of critical and complex development deals on behalf of the City and Agency over the past two years. Dovetail that with his private sector real estate experience and he is poised well to serve us in this new position.”

“Jason has the combination of passion and skill we need to deliver on the City Council’s priority of building a vibrant, sustainable local economy,” Ms. Bragdon said.

Since joining the Suisun City Redevelopment Agency, Mr. Garben was instrumental in negotiating and implementing the Main Street West disposition and development agreement, recruiting and negotiating with developers for RDA-owned property on Highway 12 near the Sunset Shopping Center, facilitating the development of the proposed Hampton Inn & Suites in the Waterfront District, negotiating terms and facilitating the proposed residential development at the south end of Civic Center Boulevard, and overseeing redevelopment of two Morgan Street parcels as live-work units.

Mr. Garben also represents Suisun City in regular recruiting trips seeking developers and tenants for a wide range of business opportunities in the City.

“My focus will remain on keeping projects in the pipeline moving forward, and on working toward bringing new business and investment to Suisun City,” Mr. Garben said. “Suisun City has been through so many exciting changes in the past 10 to 15 years. Now, we’ve got to bring in the final components to ensure a strong local economy for years to come.”

A fifth generation Solano County native, Mr. Garben has deep local roots. He earned a bachelors degree in Business Administration with a concentration in real estate finance and a minor in economics from San Diego State University. Prior to joining Suisun City in 2005, he spent approximately six years in the private sector working in the commercial real estate field.

Mr. DaSilva will continue to work part-time within the Department to provide specific expertise on a project-by-project basis.

Excerpted from Daily Republic (Subscription required)>>Click for full article>>By Ines BebeaSUISUN CITY - Doyle Wiseman takes pride in being a product of local schools. His success as president of the Wiseman Co. is a testament to what the Fairfield Suisun Unified School District can accomplish, when given the right tools.For the past six years, the Wiseman Co. has organized a Fourth of July fundraiser for Crescent Elementary School in Suisun City. For the Armijo High School graduate, his participation in the principal for a day program a few years ago was the catalyst to understanding how teachers did their work with limited resources.

By investing in public education, Wiseman says, his company is investing in the community's future.

"I believe that children are the future, and the quality of education in Solano County impacts the people who live here, and the ones who want to live here," said Wiseman, who graduated from the UC Berkeley with a degree in business administration. "We need to help the schools, and that makes for a better community."

SUISUN CITY - It will be August when Suisun City residents get their first look at the draft report on how building a Wal-Mart Supercenter in eastern Suisun will affect the area.

Suisun City's Planning Department hoped to release the draft environmental Impact report on the proposed store this month but have pushed back the date. "We are now looking at first week of August," Suisun City Planning Director Heather McCollister said.

Wal-Mart wants to build a 230,000-square-foot supercenter just west of Walters Road and north of Highway 12.

SUISUN CITY - Suisun City residents will be paying more for their water next year if the Suisun-Solano Water Authority approves a plan to raise rates this fall as well as in 2008 and 2009.The water authority, which comprises the Suisun City Council and the Solano Irrigation District governing board, wants to raise rates 6 percent in September, 5 percent July 1, 2008, and 5 percent July 1, 2009."We have gotten no formal protests yet," Suisun City Financial Services Officer Mark Joseph said. "I am a little surprised."The authority announced the increases two months ago and held a community meeting June 26, which only a dozen residents attended to give their input.Even after the increases, Suisun City residents will still be paying less for their water than their neighbors in Fairfield but more than Vacaville residents, according to Joseph.

Excerpted from Vacaville Reporter>>Click for full article>>A high-speed chase from Suisun City to West Sacramento early Sunday ended with the arrest of a Fairfield man and the escape of two other suspects.

Timothy Murphy, 19, was booked into Solano County Jail on suspicion of evading a peace officer and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Around 4:50 a.m., Suisun City police responded to a report of a stolen vehicle on Spoonbill Lane. The blue 2004 Suzuki XL-7, occupied by three people, was spotted on Pintail Drive, but its driver apparently refused an officer's order to stop. A chase ensued through Fairfield, Vacaville and in excess of 100 mph on eastbound Interstate 80.

Officers from Vacaville, Dixon, Davis, West Sacramento and the California Highway Patrol aided in the pursuit.

The Suzuki later spun out near Raley Field in West Sacramento and the occupants ran off, police said.